Reliability issues
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm contemplating dipping my toe in the world of TVR, in particular, either a sagaris or possibly a Tuscan2 and was wondering if anyone could shed any light on reliability issues or elec faults with either of these cars. I tend to use my cars as everyday transport and would just like to allay my fears that these cars will noy let me down .... too much
Thanks in advance Dale
I'm contemplating dipping my toe in the world of TVR, in particular, either a sagaris or possibly a Tuscan2 and was wondering if anyone could shed any light on reliability issues or elec faults with either of these cars. I tend to use my cars as everyday transport and would just like to allay my fears that these cars will noy let me down .... too much
Thanks in advance Dale
Hi,
Having recently spent a fair amount of time looking at the newer Tivs with a view to changing the Griff I can add the following:
They are very different from the older cars. I have to say that I have been really impressed with the interiors. They are no where near as bullit proof as a conventional car but the for handmade, low production numbers, I have been very impressed.
The mechanical things that go wrong are pretty much all detailed in previous threads but it would appear that by 53 onwards much of the major stuff had been resolved.
My simple advice would be to buy from a dealer and take the full warranty and budget on buying another 12 months worth when that expires. This is what I am probably going to do as it should give me 24 months peace of mind.
I also have a TVR garage that is close enough for any little trips to fix annoying niggles not to be a great problem.
Having recently spent a fair amount of time looking at the newer Tivs with a view to changing the Griff I can add the following:
They are very different from the older cars. I have to say that I have been really impressed with the interiors. They are no where near as bullit proof as a conventional car but the for handmade, low production numbers, I have been very impressed.
The mechanical things that go wrong are pretty much all detailed in previous threads but it would appear that by 53 onwards much of the major stuff had been resolved.
My simple advice would be to buy from a dealer and take the full warranty and budget on buying another 12 months worth when that expires. This is what I am probably going to do as it should give me 24 months peace of mind.
I also have a TVR garage that is close enough for any little trips to fix annoying niggles not to be a great problem.
Had my 05 plate Sagaris for around 6 months and it now has 10,000 on the clock since new.
I have as yet had no problems and i use mine every day for work.
Generally my office is only around a 25 mile a day round trip but i have used it recently for a couple of business trips to Manchester and again faultless.
I would recommend a new TVR to anyone and this is my second one as i had an old Tuscan originally and never really had any problems with this either and i used it all through the winter including the snow.
I have as yet had no problems and i use mine every day for work.
Generally my office is only around a 25 mile a day round trip but i have used it recently for a couple of business trips to Manchester and again faultless.
I would recommend a new TVR to anyone and this is my second one as i had an old Tuscan originally and never really had any problems with this either and i used it all through the winter including the snow.
It's not either of the cars you're looking for, but my 52-plate Tamora has been very reliable in six months and about 5,000 miles. No electrical problems, no bits falling off or anything.
Does tend to leak out of the coolant cap, but I believe that was rectified in later models.
Wouldn't want it to be an everyday car, though, because it wouldn't feel as special.
Does tend to leak out of the coolant cap, but I believe that was rectified in later models.
Wouldn't want it to be an everyday car, though, because it wouldn't feel as special.
Touching wood here, but....
06 Tamora, 13K miles since new (April) hasn't missed a beat. Do all sorts of runs; was in Colchester last week driving 4 miles in heavy traffic, stop-start, twice a day; absolutely fine. Long motorway runs, absolutely fine. (TOUCH WOOD!!)
So far, in terms of oil that it's used in 13k miles, errrmmmmmm none? I honestly haven't put in one drop so far and it's till using the thin stuff. Check it regularly (when hot, as per instructions etc etc) and it's been totally fine. (TOUCH WOOD!)
I bloody love it
06 Tamora, 13K miles since new (April) hasn't missed a beat. Do all sorts of runs; was in Colchester last week driving 4 miles in heavy traffic, stop-start, twice a day; absolutely fine. Long motorway runs, absolutely fine. (TOUCH WOOD!!)
So far, in terms of oil that it's used in 13k miles, errrmmmmmm none? I honestly haven't put in one drop so far and it's till using the thin stuff. Check it regularly (when hot, as per instructions etc etc) and it's been totally fine. (TOUCH WOOD!)
I bloody love it
How much you looking to spend?
I brought a t350 04 plate with 4000 miles on the clock 2months ago and i havent looked back since!
You'll get addicted to it once driven and all the niggling little problems. Sensors, rattles etc go to the back of your mind when you put your foot down.
It gets all the right attention. Every time i fill up for petrol, somebody stops me to ask questions.
I brought a t350 04 plate with 4000 miles on the clock 2months ago and i havent looked back since!
You'll get addicted to it once driven and all the niggling little problems. Sensors, rattles etc go to the back of your mind when you put your foot down.
It gets all the right attention. Every time i fill up for petrol, somebody stops me to ask questions.
Could'nt agree more with snapz.
Brought a tuscan 2 years ago with a rebuild and not a single problem out of character over two years. just regular service issues like worn bushes etc. Servicing costs can be high but this is usual with a high performance carS.
Just got a t350 a month ago and hoping for the same
Brought a tuscan 2 years ago with a rebuild and not a single problem out of character over two years. just regular service issues like worn bushes etc. Servicing costs can be high but this is usual with a high performance carS.
Just got a t350 a month ago and hoping for the same
It looks like everyone is very happy with the latest TVR's.
Maybe if you want to hear some bad reviews you should visit a Porsche or BMW forum because they no everything about TVR's!!!! Particularly when it comes down to reliability.
Ask them about performance and very strangly they don't know anything.
Maybe if you want to hear some bad reviews you should visit a Porsche or BMW forum because they no everything about TVR's!!!! Particularly when it comes down to reliability.
Ask them about performance and very strangly they don't know anything.
I've used my T350 as my only car for two and a half years and fifty thousand miles. It's not perfect but it's as close as any other car I reckon. I've had total electrical failure twice due to fusing the 'fuseable link' thus preventing the alternator from doing it's job. And the clutch expired at 40k miles. Oh and it's been driven into twice whilst stationary but that's not really the car's fault.
I'll forgive those little inconveniences in exchange for the huge amount of pleasure that I get from the car. However jaded or knackered I feel my drive home is never a chore even when the traffic is less than ideal.
As the previous couple of posts suggest TVRs seem to like being used and need attentive, regular (and not inexpensive) servicing but there is no other car I'd rather have.
In my experience TVRs, certainly modern ones, are not especially unreliable compared to other marques but they perform, look, sound and drive so much better than anything else I would consider an alternative option.
I'll forgive those little inconveniences in exchange for the huge amount of pleasure that I get from the car. However jaded or knackered I feel my drive home is never a chore even when the traffic is less than ideal.
As the previous couple of posts suggest TVRs seem to like being used and need attentive, regular (and not inexpensive) servicing but there is no other car I'd rather have.
In my experience TVRs, certainly modern ones, are not especially unreliable compared to other marques but they perform, look, sound and drive so much better than anything else I would consider an alternative option.
cdd said:
It looks like everyone is very happy with the latest TVR's.
Not everyone.
My T350C, registered new July 2005, is by far the worse TVR I've ever had.
Small niggles I can put up with, being let down and having to use the RAC or return it to the dealer more times than I care to remember is not acceptable.
Sorry to hear that you have had all the problems paul1962.
Unfortunatly it would appear that maybe you got a Friday afternoon car if you know what i mean.
This can happen with any car unfortunatly but obviously with a handbuilt performance car like a TVR these are more prone to it.
Still no excuse for allowing it to go out to the buyer but probably just as important is how TVR have assisted / handled your problems.
Unfortunatly it would appear that maybe you got a Friday afternoon car if you know what i mean.
This can happen with any car unfortunatly but obviously with a handbuilt performance car like a TVR these are more prone to it.
Still no excuse for allowing it to go out to the buyer but probably just as important is how TVR have assisted / handled your problems.
I contacted TVR when it broke down for the first time (approx 200 miles on the clock) and got a reply a week later basically saying sorry I'd had problems but they understood from my dealer that it was now fixed.
I've not contacted since then.
To be fair I think the dealer is doing all they can but they've just not managed to find the problem.
All my problems appear to be due to water getting where it shouldn't but it's not consistent. It can sit in the rain for days without trouble then another time a light shower causes havoc.
The dealer has never seen it go wrong as the problem always disappears by the time I've got it to them.
I'm due to fetch it back next weekend after being without for four weeks but they've still not seen it go wrong and can't find any traces of water anywhere.
So far I've had lucky escapes in that I've been close to home when I've had trouble but the issue is now one of confidence. What if I go somewhere only to discover I can't lock/alarm it and therefore can't leave it ?
It's getting really annoying now and I'm afraid I'm not going to put up with it for much longer.
I've not contacted since then.
To be fair I think the dealer is doing all they can but they've just not managed to find the problem.
All my problems appear to be due to water getting where it shouldn't but it's not consistent. It can sit in the rain for days without trouble then another time a light shower causes havoc.
The dealer has never seen it go wrong as the problem always disappears by the time I've got it to them.
I'm due to fetch it back next weekend after being without for four weeks but they've still not seen it go wrong and can't find any traces of water anywhere.
So far I've had lucky escapes in that I've been close to home when I've had trouble but the issue is now one of confidence. What if I go somewhere only to discover I can't lock/alarm it and therefore can't leave it ?
It's getting really annoying now and I'm afraid I'm not going to put up with it for much longer.
Edited by paul1962 on Monday 20th November 13:39
paul1962 said:
I contacted TVR when it broke down for the first time (approx 200 miles on the clock) and got a reply a week later basically saying sorry I'd had problems but they understood from my dealer that it was now fixed.
I've not contacted since then.
To be fair I think the dealer is doing all they can but they've just not managed to find the problem.
All my problems appear to be due to water getting where it shouldn't but it's not consistent. It can sit in the rain for days without trouble then another time a light shower causes havoc.
The dealer has never seen it go wrong as the problem always disappears by the time I've got it to them.
I'm due to fetch it back next weekend after being without for four weeks but they've still not seen it go wrong and can't find any traces of water anywhere.
So far I've had lucky escapes in that I've been close to home when I've had trouble but the issue is now one of confidence. What if I go somewhere only to discover I can't lock/alarm it and therefore can't leave it ?
It's getting really annoying now and I'm afraid I'm not going to put up with it for much longer.
I've not contacted since then.
To be fair I think the dealer is doing all they can but they've just not managed to find the problem.
All my problems appear to be due to water getting where it shouldn't but it's not consistent. It can sit in the rain for days without trouble then another time a light shower causes havoc.
The dealer has never seen it go wrong as the problem always disappears by the time I've got it to them.
I'm due to fetch it back next weekend after being without for four weeks but they've still not seen it go wrong and can't find any traces of water anywhere.
So far I've had lucky escapes in that I've been close to home when I've had trouble but the issue is now one of confidence. What if I go somewhere only to discover I can't lock/alarm it and therefore can't leave it ?
It's getting really annoying now and I'm afraid I'm not going to put up with it for much longer.
Edited by paul1962 on Monday 20th November 13:39
What are the symptoms?
I had a problem which was due to water ingress on the passenger side when the car was parked on a road with a steep camber. Neither my dealer or I could solve it so we just mounted the door control ecu in a different place and not looked back.
Are you sure its not something that simple?
Edited by maddog-uk on Monday 20th November 16:01
maddog-uk said:
What are the symptoms?
I had a problem which was due to water ingress on the passenger side when the car was parked on a road with a steep camber. Neither my dealer or I could solve it so we just mounted the door control ecu in a different place and not looked back.
Are you sure its not something that simple?
The symptoms vary so it's not consistent but so far...
R/H brake light on and LCD powers up with no keys in ignition. Pressing brake pedal turns the brake light off and the LCD turns off too!.
Opening a door also opens the rear window.
When arming the alarm the indicators flash forever.
When arming alarm it goes off before it's finished flashing the indicators.
The above is what has happened recently. Only one fault appears at a time then it dries out and is ok for a while and then next time it gets wet another fault appears. There is more than the above but I can't remember what they were.
Door ecu has been rotated so wires enter from side instead of top as recommended by someone on here.
Are there any other units which I should try relocating ?
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